Seasick Steve - I Started Out With Nothin’ And I Still Got Most Of It Left

Warners

How do you capture the essence of an incendiary performer in a setting as sterile as a studio recording? Many artists have released credible albums that are not a patch on their live performances; whilst the dreaded ‘red light fever’ can strike when the mics are turned on to record a gig. Seasick Steve has reached a perfect compromise on his new album, his first for Warners.

Steve brings his hobo charm to the proceedings by telling little rambling stories in between the songs, occasionally setting the scene, sometimes just mumbling incoherently. It has the effect of allowing us entry into his world, on his terms. For an artist as idiosyncratic as Seasick Steve, this is absolutely essential, transforming a record that is ultimately a fairly accomplished folk/blues hybrid into something captivating and intimate.

It’s like being at your own private gig with the man himself, Steve sharing his tall tales directly into your ear. Of course, the record still struggles to justify itself as anything more than an advert for his gigs, but on those terms, it’s a roaring success. Steven Rainey

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DOWNLOAD: ‘WALKING MAN’, ‘JUST LIKE A KING’.
FOR FANS OF: TOM WAITS, TRAINS, SLEEPING ROUGH.

Issue #52 - Very Bro-some

Featuring Panama Kings, ASIWYFA, an investigation into DIY touring, details of what over 25 of the finest NI bands are up to in 2009 and much more.